Improvement in signal-flags foe vessels



uitrit faire inganni @frn Letters .Patent .Na-82,849; dated October 6, 1868; antedated September 25, 1868.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN: v

Beit known that I, JOHN F. H. KING, of Port Richmond, in the county of Richmond, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manner of-Hanging or Setting Signal-Flags, suitable p articularly for uselon board vessels, and which I call The American Lloyds lSignal-Setter 5 and that the following is a full, true, and exact description of my said improvement, reference being made to the drawings accompanying, and making part of this, my specication.

Figure I, of the drawings, represents aside view or elevation of my improvement, and of the signal-Hag, hung at the mast-head. i V

Figure II represents the frame or setting, without the flag attached, in thc position required for setting or displaying the signal, the dotted lines showing the position of the frame or setting when the ilag is not setor displayed, and when being hoisted or lowered.

The same letters represent the same parts in both the figures. v ,gli

The practice of designating vessels by signal-numbers upon ags or signals, so as to be recognized when vessels pass each other at sea, or approaching or leaving port, is well known. vThe number which chat-acterizes or designates the vesselbeing axed upon the signal-Hag in clear and distinct color, and the number being registered in the shipping-lists, and published in the Marine Register, or Reports of Vessels, the display of the signal-iiag indicates the nanie of the vessel to all who may have lists for reference; and where the system ofnumbering each vessel is carried out, and generally adopted and published, as in the case of the New York Marine Register, or American Lloyds Register of American and Foreign Shipping, vessels passing each other at sea may be recognized readily, and with certainty of finding the signal-number` upon the book or register. But, when the signal-dag is simply 'fastened at one lend to the mast, steif, or the halyard, it is oftentimes diicult, and occasionally impossible, to read distinctly the number upon the signal, owing to the fluttering and waving of the ilag in the wind, and in a calm, thefiag drops and folds by its own weight, so that the numbers cannot be read.

It is to obviate this inconvenience that my improvement is directed, and which I' accomplish in the manner new to be described. f

I construct a frame, composed of two sticks or pieces of wood, of suitable size and length for the vlength of the end and upper edge of the flag. One of these pieces, a, Figs. I and II of drawing, constitutes the sta of the signal-flag, the other piece, constitutes a supporter stretcher for the upper edge of the ii'ag. The two frame-pieces a b are united near the upper end by a pin passing through the two pieces, and holding them together, and at the saine time forming a joint, by which the piece b readily turns, so as to lie close alongside of the piece a, or to stand at right angles toit. At the yupper end of the staff ct is an eye, for fastening ythe'v halyard e, by which the frame and flag are suspended to the mast. The inner end of the piece b is also pro.u

vided with an Aeye, d, to which is fastened the line' or halyard e, by which the outer end of pieceb is to be raised o r lowered. 'Ifhe line e is brought down and passed through au eve "or rino', f, inserted in thel lower part of D sta-ii` a.

I The signalfflag is fastened at the two interior corners and at the exterior upper corner, so as to be readily inserted in theframeor taken out, as described. The two ends c d of the frame-piece a b are connected by a small chain or cord, g, of such length as topermit the frame-piece b to be drawn or raised to a position at right angles to the piece a, by the hauling of the line or halyard e, and to hold it in that positionwhen required.

When the signal-flag is to be set or displayed, the halyards e e are hauled taut, and the ends secured to the cleat L upon the mast., By this arrangement the staa is held steady in a vertical position, aud the frame-piece b, extending the length of the iiag in on the iiag, in wind or calm.

When the signal is not in use, the halyar'd e is loosened, vwhen the frame-piece 6 lturns upon the pivot, and

falls close alongside of a, folding the iiag, and the whole can then be reefed compactly together.

a horizontal position, holds it out its length, so as to display the number For the more readily being distinguished at a. distance, the numbers on the Hag shouldA be red on a white 1 ground, or white on a. red ground. i i Y The frame-piece 6 may be connected with staff a by a cord placed on the outer ends, so as to limit the rising of b to a. right angie with a, instead'of using the short chain g, but this plan is not so convenientes that above described. Other devices, such as a. shoulder or slotted joint, may answer the purpose of the chain or cord, so as to arrest and stay the arm b at the proper point, but I prefenthe chein or cord.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein, and for` which I desire Letters Patent, is

The constructing and combining the two frsme-pieces a b and the check-chain or cord q with the hnlyards, for displaying or folding a signal-flag, the Whole arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the h purposes described.

n .n JOHN F. H. KING.

Witnesses:

J. B. STAPLES, G. W. Fox. 

